I Stand All Amazed at the Love Jesus Offers Me

Hello everyone! Sorry it's been a bit since I've written. Our preparation days have been pretty jam packed with activities because Sister Clark is about to go home. But I finally had time today!

We have been having so much fun working in an area and building it up. We have found quite a few "lost sheep" and my testimony has been magnified many times that there are people prepared right now in this area to accept the gospel. It totally changed my perspective when I realized that there are honestly people that have already read the Book of Mormon, or who are searching for the the "Mormon church." Literally. So I am trying to just increase my faith each day and then go out and work to find those people. The exact same is true for people that you associate with! How exciting! Just open your mouths and you will find out who they are.

This morning I studied about the blessings of keeping temple covenants, and it is incredible! One of those blessings is to be successful at being a missionary, member or full time. It was humbling to me to realize that the success that I have experienced as a missionary directly ties back to living my temple covenants. God is so good! I especially love that WE have full access to the information that will bring us increased light and knowledge. We can't get away with any excuses, because if we don't know something, it is up to us to search it out. That is a skill that I have worked on developing as I have been on my mission- searching the scriptures and words of modern day prophets to find increased knowledge and truth.

Well, for some major highlights of this week:

-We received an online referral to teach a deaf woman. So we had to talk to her interpreter on the phone to be able to get things arranged with her. We will hopefully be teaching her soon. How cool!

-Natalie, a girl that Sister Clark and I taught in our last area, was baptized on Saturday and we were able to go! It was such a huge blessing to be able to see the fruit of our efforts.

-Last Monday we went to Valley Forge Park and drove around seeing the sites. Don't worry Grandma, I definitely kept the map to bring home!

I love you all! The Church is TRRRRRRRUUUUUUEEEEE!!!!! Keep smiling and open your mouths! Heavenly Father will fill it with some good words :D

Love, Sister Amber Flower Ricks

Merry Christmas!

Okay, I just barely realized that my letter from last week didn't
send. Sorry about that! I was basically just saying that I was being
transferred and if you send me any letters from now to the end of my
mission, just send them to 721 Paxon Hollow Rd Ste. B.  Broomall, PA
19008.

Sister Clark and I were bummed that we were being separated after just
5 weeks of serving together, but then we ended up staying together,
just moving to the Broomall ward. We already love it here!

This was a big week! We were transferred, we've fallen in love with
the area and the people, and then we travelled through 4 states in one
day to GO TO THE WASHINGTON DC TEMPLE! Donald, from my first area,
went through to get his endowment and Sister Clark and I were able to
go with him. It was the first time I've been in the temple in over a
year and it was so wonderful! And of course it was great to see the
Messado family and the McNaughtons who also came to the temple.

I feel so incredibly blessed in so many ways! This Christmas season is
just such a beautiful time of year. The feeling in the air is almost
tangible as people's hearts soften and they focus more on Christ.
Please take advantage of the new video He is the Gift and share it
with everyone you know! It is changing hearts, and hopefully all of
you are included in that :) Mine sure is! Have a Merry Christmas and
remember that I love each and every one of you for being who you are.

Love, Sister Amber Ricks